Peek Around User Interface

ABSTRACT

An operating system shell has an underlying desktop object that is rendered according to different views. The operating system shell renders on a display screen a desktop graphical user interface with windows, tools, icons, etc. that are within a segment of the desktop object that can be observed (i.e., rendered) from one of the views. In illustrated implementations, the desktop object is of an extent that is greater than can be rendered from a single view. Allowing a user to select or access different views of the desktop object effectively provides an extended desktop that overcomes the fixed and limited display capabilities of conventional operating system shells.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/112,394, filed on Mar. 29, 2002, which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to graphical user interfaces for computeroperating systems and, in particular, to a graphical user interface thatmay be rendered according to different views to provide an enlargedoperating system desktop.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is now common for operating systems to have a shell that provides agraphical user interface (GUI). The shell is a piece of software (eithera separate program or component part of the operating system) thatprovides direct communication between the user and the operating system.The graphical user interface typically provides a graphicalicon-oriented and/or menu driven environment for the user to interactwith the operating system.

The graphical user interface of many operating system shells is based ona desktop metaphor that creates a graphical environment simulating workat a desk. These graphical user interfaces typically employ a windowingenvironment with the desktop.

The windowing environment presents the user with specially delineatedareas of the screen called windows, each of which is dedicated to aparticular application program, file or document. Each window can actindependently, as if it were a virtual display device under control ofits particular application program. Windows can typically be resized,moved around the display, and stacked so as to overlay another. In somewindowing environments, windows can be minimized to an icon or increasedto a full-screen display.

Windows may be rendered beside each other or may have a top to bottomorder in which they are displayed, with top windows at a particularlocation on the screen overlaying any other window at that same locationaccording to a z-order (an order of the windows along a conceptualz-axis normal to the desktop or display screen). The top-most window hasthe “focus” and accepts the user's input. The user can switch otherwindows to the top (and thereby change the z-order) by clicking on thewindow with a mouse or other pointer device, or by inputting certain keycombinations. This allows the user to work with multiple applicationprograms, files and documents in a manner similar to physically workingwith multiple paper documents and items that can be arbitrarily stackedor arranged on an actual desk.

Typically, the physical dimensions of computer display screen are muchmore limited than the desires of users to have different windows, tools,icons, etc. rendered simultaneously and the ability of operating systemshells to do so. The result is that the limited extent of display screen“real estate” can limit the ability of operating system shells to rendermultiple windows, tools, icons, etc. simultaneously.

A variety of prior implementations have attempted to compensate for thefixed and limited extent of display screens. In one prior implementationreferred to as morphing, objects (e.g., windows) are quickly transformedinto smaller representations or symbols to reduce the amount of displayscreen area they require. For example, a window may be minimized to asymbol that is rendered on a task bar along on edge of the displayscreen. The working size f the object may then be re-generated byselecting or activating the symbol.

In another prior implementation referred to as scrolling, some objects(e.g., windows) are accessed from an unrendered, off-screen region byscrolling the objects into the fixed display screen area. For example,the user could be provided a graphical user interface affordance (suchas a scroll bar) with which the off-screen objects are to moved intoview.

In yet another prior implementation referred to as pop-ups/drop-downs, auser interface affordance (e.g., a menu name) is acted on by user toproduce an overlay of other elements such as a window full of menu itemsthat are separately selectable. Typically, this overlay is easilydismissed from the display screen. Finally, in still another priorimplementation referred to as drawers, a user interface affordance atthe edge of a display screen or window can be pulled out to reveal anoverlay of objects or menu items, in the manner of a cabinet drawer.Typically the user can control the amount of the drawer that is pulledout to reveal more or fewer of the objects.

Such prior implementations attempting to compensate for the fixed andlimited extent of display screens may be characterized as allowing auser either to move objects onto the fixed display screen area (e.g., asin scrolling or pop-ups/drop-downs or drawers) or moving objects fromthe display screen or reducing their size (e.g., morphing). As aspect ofthe present invention is that the fixed and limited extent of displayscreens may be effectively extended or enlarged by providing differentviews of an underlying desktop object.

The present invention provides an operating system shell with anunderlying desktop object that is rendered according to different views.The operating system shell renders on a display screen a desktopgraphical user interface with windows, tools, icons, etc. that arewithin a segment of the desktop object that can be observed (i.e.,rendered) from one of the views. In illustrated implementations, thedesktop object is of an extent that is greater than can be rendered froma single view. Allowing a user to select or access different views ofthe desktop object effectively provides an extended desktop thatovercomes the fixed and limited display capabilities of conventionaloperating system shells.

In one implementation, a variable viewing angle interface is rendered inaccordance with first and second viewing angles, the first viewing anglebeing perpendicular to the desktop object and the second viewing anglebeing non-perpendicular to the desktop object. A user-controlled viewingselection corresponding to one of perpendicular and angled views isobtained and encompasses one of respective first and second regions ofthe desktop object. The operating system graphical user interface isrendered as a three-dimensional image transformation of the desktopobject in accordance with the selected view.

The present invention allows use of a desktop object that is larger thanor extended relative a conventional display screen. Changes between thedifferent views, such as making the change from the perpendicular viewto the angled view, is akin to taking a “peek” around an obstruction, inthis case the edge of a display screen. Accordingly, this use ofdifferent image transformation representations to provide differentviews of a desktop object may sometimes be referred to as a“peek-around” user interface that quickly reveals portions of desktopobject that would normally not be seen.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodimentthereof, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system that may be used toimplement the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a desktop-based graphical userinterface with a perpendicular view of an underlying desktop accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an image transformation representationcorresponding to the perpendicular view of the desktop of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating graphical user interface with anangled-view of an underlying desktop according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an image transformation representationcorresponding to the angled view of the desktop of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an image transformation representation illustrating aperpendicular view of a desktop with a non-planar, stepped desktopobject.

FIG. 7 is an image transformation representation illustrating aperpendicular view of a desktop with a non-planar desktop object havinginclined segments.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are image transformation representations illustratingperpendiculars a planar desktop object at different first and secondimage distances.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a desktop shell rendering method forselectively generating different views of a desktop-based graphical userinterface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an operating environment for an embodiment of thepresent invention as a computer system 20 with a computer 22 thatcomprises at least one high speed processing unit (CPU) 24 inconjunction with a memory system 26, an input device 28, and an outputdevice 30. These elements are interconnected by at least one busstructure 32.

The illustrated CPU 24 is of familiar design and includes an ALU 34 forperforming computations, a collection of registers 36 for temporarystorage of data and instructions, and a control unit 38 for controllingoperation of the system 20. The CPU 24 may be a processor having any ofa variety of architectures including Alpha from Digital, MIPS from MIPSTechnology, NEC, IDT, Siemens, and others, x86 from Intel and others,including Cyrix, AMD, and Nexgen, and the PowerPC from IBM and Motorola.

The memory system 26 generally includes high-speed main memory 40 in theform of a medium such as random access memory (RAM) and read only memory(ROM) semiconductor devices, and secondary storage 42 in the form oflong term storage mediums such as floppy disks, hard disks, tape,CD-ROM, flash memory, etc. and other devices that store data usingelectrical, magnetic, optical or other recording media. The main memory40 also can include video display memory for displaying images through adisplay device. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the memory26 can comprise a variety of alternative components having a variety ofstorage capacities.

The input and output devices 28 and 30 also are familiar. The inputdevice 28 can comprise a keyboard, a mouse, a physical transducer (e.g.,a microphone), etc. The output device 30 can comprise a display, aprinter, a transducer (e.g., a speaker), etc. Some devices, such as anetwork interface or a modem can be used as input and/or output devices.

As is familiar to those skilled in the art, the computer system 20further includes an operating system 44 and typically at least oneapplication program 46. Operating system 44 is the set of software thatcontrols the computer system operation and the allocation of resources.Application program 46 is the set of software that performs a taskdesired by the user, using computer resources made available throughoperating system 44. Both are resident in the illustrated memory system26.

In accordance with the practices of persons skilled in the art ofcomputer programming, the present invention is described below withreference to acts and symbolic representations of operations that areperformed by computer system 20, unless indicated otherwise. Such actsand operations are sometimes referred to as being computer-executed andmay be associated with the operating system or the application programas appropriate. It will be appreciated that the acts and symbolicallyrepresented operations include the manipulation by the CPU 24 ofelectrical signals representing data bits which causes a resultingtransformation or reduction of the electrical signal representation, andthe maintenance of data bits at memory locations in memory system 26 tothereby reconfigure or otherwise alter the computer system's operation,as well as other processing of signals. The memory locations where databits are maintained are physical locations that have particularelectrical, magnetic, or optical properties corresponding to the databits.

Operating system 44 has a shell 48 that provides a graphical userinterface (GUI). The shell 48 is a piece of software (either a separateprogram or component part of the operating system) that provides directcommunication between the user and operating system 44. The graphicaluser interface typically provides a graphical icon-oriented and/or menudriven environment for the user to interact with the operating system.The graphical user interface of many operating system shells is based onor referred to as a desktop metaphor in which a graphical environmentsimulates working at a desk. These graphical user interfaces typicallyemploy a windowing environment within the desktop metaphor.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a desktop-based graphical userinterface 50 with a perpendicular view of an underlying desktop 52 overwhich are rendered windows 54 and 56 and a portion of a window 58. (Anunrendered portion of window 58 is indicated by dashed lines.) It willbe appreciated that any number of windows could be rendered on desktop52. Windows 54-58 are rendered by shell 48 and allow a user to interactwith operating system 44 or an application 46 running on operatingsystem 44.

Desktop-based graphical user interface 50 provides a plan view ofdesktop 52 and windows 54-58. In the plan view, the desktop 52 andwindows 54-58 are represented as being in one or more planes that areperpendicular to a predefined line of vision from a user.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an image transformation representation 70corresponding to the perpendicular view of desktop 52 in graphical userinterface 50. Image transformation representation 70 includes aviewpoint 72 (indicated schematically as an image plane 72 a a camera72) with a viewing range 74 and a perpendicular orientation to anextended desktop object 76. The perpendicular orientation of viewpoint72 encompasses a central segment 78 of extended desktop object 76 andomits lateral segments 80 and 82 of extended desktop object 76.

Image transformation representation 70 illustrates that the appearanceof desktop 52 rendered on a computer display screen is based upon athree-dimensional image transformation in accordance with the presentinvention. Accordingly, desktop 52 corresponds to a view of desktopobject 76 at viewpoint 72 having a perpendicular orientation. Such animage transformation may be generated by a conventional transformationmatrix representing a three-dimensional rotation about a Y-axis andbeing of the form:

${M = \begin{bmatrix}{\cos \; A} & 0 & {{- \sin}\; A} & 0 \\0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\{\sin \; A} & 0 & {\cos \; A} & 0 \\0 & 0 & 0 & 1\end{bmatrix}},$

where A is the angle of rotation. The matrix M is multiplied by a matrixcorresponding to an object being rendered (e.g., a window and anyfeatures to be rendered within it) to generate the resulting view, as isknown in the art of three-dimensional rendering. While it is sometimesused in applications that provide three-dimensional spatialrepresentations, this type of three-dimensional projectiontransformation calculation is not the typical basis used by a shell 48to generate a desktop graphical user interface.

The perpendicular view of desktop 52 may have an appearance similar tothat of a conventional desktop graphical user interface. It will beappreciated, however, that perpendicular view of desktop 52 is generatedin a manner different from that of a conventional desktop graphical userinterface. The three-dimensional projection transformation calculationabove is used to generate both the perpendicular and angled views ofdesktop-based graphical user interface 50. In contrast, a conventionaldesktop style graphical user interface is typically generated as asimple two-dimensional representation that is incapable of accommodatingthe different viewing angles provided by the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating graphical user interface 50 with anangled-view of underlying desktop 52 over which are rendered windows 54,56, 58, and 60. The angled-views of windows 54-60 are rendered by theshell 48 of operating system 44 and provided an extended view of desktop52 that allows the user to interact with operating system 44 or anapplication running 46 on operating system 44.

In the angled view of FIG. 4, the desktop 52 and windows 54-60 arerepresented as being in one or more planes that are not perpendicular toa predefined line of vision from a user. In the illustratedimplementation, the angled-view is angled laterally relative to theperpendicular view. In the angled view, the desktop 52 and windows 54-60are represented as having a non-perpendicular orientation to a centralpredefined line of vision from viewpoint 72 to the display screen. As aresult, windows 45-60 are rendered with a parallax that causes theotherwise rectangular windows 54-60 to have trapezoidal shapes. It willbe appreciated that the parallax of windows 54-60 in FIG. 4 would alsoaffect any graphics, images, text, etc. rendered within windows 54-60.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an image transformation representation 100corresponding to the angled view of desktop 52 in graphical userinterface 50. Image transformation representation 100 includes aviewpoint 102 with a viewing range 104 and a laterally non-perpendicularorientation to desktop object 76. Viewing range 104 established by thenon-perpendicular orientation of viewpoint 72 encompasses a major sidedesktop segment 106. A second minor side desktop segment 108 is notincluded in viewing range 104.

Image transformation representations 70 and 100 allow desktop object 76to be larger than or extended relative a conventional desktop object.The pivoting or rotation distinguishing viewpoints 72 and 102 makes thechange from the perpendicular view to the angled view akin to taking a“peek” around an obstruction, in this case the edge of a display screen.Accordingly, this use of different image transformation representationsto provide different views of a desktop object may sometimes be referredto as a “peek-around” user interface that quickly reveals portions ofdesktop object that would normally not be seen.

As with conventional desktop-style graphical user interfaces, graphicaluser interface 50 of the present invention allows a user to manipulateand move windows rendered on desktop 52. For example, users may movewindows between central segment 78 corresponding to the perpendicularview of FIGS. 2 and 3 and segments 80 and 82 that can be encompassedwithin angled views.

An optional aspect of graphical user interface 50 is that users couldmove windows between central segment 78 and segments 80 and 82 withkeystroke or cursor controller (e.g., mouse) actions. For example, awindow that is in one of segments 80 and 82 and rendered in an angledview of desktop object 76 could be moved to central segment 78 by a userselecting or activating the window. Likewise, a window that is incentral segment 78 and rendered in the perpendicular view of desktopobject 76 could be moved to one of segments 80 and 82 by a predefinedkeyboard action by the user or by the user dragging a predefined portionof the window beyond a margin of the display screen.

Extended desktop object 76 in FIGS. 3 and 5 is represented as a planarimage surface that is generally parallel to the display screen on whichdesktop 52 is rendered. Other aspects of the present invention are thatextended desktop objects of other configurations may be used and thatimage transformation representations other than viewpoint rotation maybe used to access and render marginal segments of an extended desktopobject.

FIG. 6 is an image transformation representation 120 illustrating aperpendicular view of a desktop (not shown) in a graphical userinterface (not shown). Image transformation representation 120 includesa viewpoint 126 with a viewing range 128 extending over a planar centralsegment 130 of a non-planar, stepped desktop object 132. Non-planardesktop object 132 further includes lateral segments 134 and 136 thatare generally parallel to central segment 130, but correspond to a depthor distance 138 from viewpoint 126 greater than depth or distance 140 tocentral segment 130.

Depth or distance 138 of lateral segments 134 and 136 causes windows(not shown) that are position within segments 134 and 136 to appearfarther from viewpoint 126 and, as a result, are rendered with acorrespondingly smaller size that allows more objects (e.g., windows) tobe rendered or discerned. It will be appreciated that the generation orrendering of windows or other objects in lateral segments 134 and 136,in comparison to the rendering in central segment 130, is readilyaccommodated by a depth factor in the conventional transformation matrixcalculation for the display.

FIG. 7 is an image transformation representation 150 illustrating aperpendicular view of a desktop (not shown) in a graphical userinterface (not shown). Image transformation representation 150 includesa viewpoint 156 with a viewing range 158 extending over a planar centralsegment 160 of a non-planar desktop object 162. Non-planar desktopobject 162 further includes lateral segments 164 and 166 that areinclined (i.e., generally not parallel) relative to central segment 160,and correspond to a depth or distance 168 from viewpoint 156 typicallygreater than depth or distance 170 to central segment 160.

Lateral segment 164 includes a pair of oppositely inclined regions 172and 174, with inner region 172 being positioned between central segment160 and outer region 174. Likewise, lateral segment 166 includes a pairof oppositely inclined regions 176 and 178, with inner region 176 beingpositioned between central segment 160 and outer region 178. In theillustrated implementation, inner inclined regions 172 and 176 are ofgenerally the same size and inclination as outer regions 174 and 178,respectively. It will be appreciated, however, that inner regions 172and 176 could be of size or inclination that differ from those ofregions 174 and 174. For example, inner regions 172 and 176 could beshorter and steeper than regions 174 and 174. It will be appreciatedthat the generation or rendering of windows or other objects in lateralsegments 164 and 166, in comparison to the rendering in central segment130, is readily accommodated by a depth factor in the conventionaltransformation matrix calculation for the display.

The inclinations of inner regions 172 and 176 will result in any windowsrendered in those regions to have a greater parallax than windowsrendered with reference to windows rendered in lateral segments ofnon-inclined desktop object (e.g., FIGS. 4 and 5). Conversely, theinclinations of outer regions 174 and 178 will result in any windowsrendered in those regions being rendered with little or no parallax. Itwill be appreciated, therefore, that relatively steep, narrow innerregions 172 and 176 could provide visual transitions to wider, extendedouter regions 174 and 178 to give a user an extended, parallax-freedesktop.

The non-planar desktop object 162 of graphical user interface 154 ismerely one example illustrating that graphical user interfaces of thepresent invention could employ a variety of non-planar desktop objects.Alternative desktop objects could employ other combinations of flatsegments, as illustrated, or could employ segments with smooth orcontinuous configurations. It will be appreciated that the generation orrendering of windows or other objects on such desktop objects, incomparison to the rendering in central segment 130, is readilyaccommodated by a depth factor in the conventional transformation matrixcalculation for the display.

FIG. 8A is an image transformation representation 180 illustrating afirst perpendicular view of a desktop (not shown) on a desktop object186 in a graphical user interface (not shown). Image transformationrepresentation 180 includes a viewpoint 190 that is a first distance 192from desktop object 186 and includes a viewing range 192 extending overa central segment 194. Lateral segments 196 and 198 of desktop object186 are not included within viewing range 192.

FIG. 8B is an image transformation representation 200 illustrating asecond perpendicular view of desktop (not shown) on desktop object 186in graphical user interface (not shown). Image transformationrepresentation 200 includes viewpoint 190 that is a second distance 204from desktop object 186 and includes a viewing range 206 extending overall of desktop object 186. Second distance 204 between viewpoint 190 anddesktop object 194 is greater than first distance 192 so that viewingrange 206 encompasses desktop object 186 while viewing range 192encompasses only central segment 194.

Image transformation representations 180 and 200 illustrate that the useof three-dimensional image transformations for rendering operatingsystem displays may extend beyond lateral rotations. It will beappreciated that the generation or rendering of windows or other objectsin image transformation representations 180 and 200 is readilyaccommodated by a depth factor in the conventional transformation matrixcalculation for the display.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a desktop shell rendering method 220 forselectively generating perpendicular and angled views of desktop-basedgraphical user interface 50. It will be appreciated that method 220 issimilarly applicable to generating alternative desktop views describedwith reference to FIGS. 6-8, and other alternative desktop views aswell.

Process block 222 indicates that an extended desktop object (e.g.,extended desktop object 76) is defined to have at least one dimensiongreater than a corresponding display screen. For example, the extendeddesktop object may have only a lateral dimension that is greater than acorresponding display screen dimension, as with exemplary extendeddesktop object 76. Alternatively, the extended desktop object may haveonly a vertical dimension that is greater than a corresponding displayscreen dimension, or may have both a lateral and a vertical dimensionthat are greater than the corresponding display screen dimensions.

Process block 224 indicates that a viewpoint (e.g., viewpoint 72) isestablished for determining a view of the desktop object.

Process block 226 indicates that a viewing angle is selected between theviewpoint and the extended desktop object. As an example, a defaultperpendicular viewing angle may be defined. An angled, non-perpendicularviewing angle may be selected either upon a specific user command orautomatically upon a user positioning a cursor at or within a predefineddistance of a side margin of the display screen. Alternatively, eyepupil motion detection may be employed to detect a user looking to aside margin of a display.

Process block 228 indicates that a desktop graphical user interface isrendered in accordance with the selected viewing angle.

Having described and illustrated the principles of our invention withreference to an illustrated embodiment, it will be recognized that theillustrated embodiment can be modified in arrangement and detail withoutdeparting from such principles. It should be understood that theprograms, processes, or methods described herein are not related orlimited to any particular type of computer apparatus, unless indicatedotherwise. Various types of general purpose or specialized computerapparatus may be used with or perform operations in accordance with theteachings described herein. Elements of the illustrated embodiment shownin software may be implemented in hardware and vice versa.

In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of ourinvention may be applied, it should be recognized that the detailedembodiments are illustrative only and should not be taken as limitingthe scope of our invention. Rather, we claim as our invention all suchembodiments as may come within the scope and spirit of the followingclaims and equivalents thereto.

1. One or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, whenexecuted on one or more processors, configure the one or more processorsto present a graphical user interface, comprising: providing a variableviewing angle interface presented, on a display screen with a surface,in accordance with at least first and second viewing angles, the firstviewing angle being perpendicular to a desktop object that is presentedparallel to the surface of the display screen and the second viewingangle being non-perpendicular to the desktop object, the variableviewing angle interface employing parallax comprising causing at leastone rectangularly presented window object to be presented trapezoidallyin the second viewing angle.
 2. The one or more computer-readable mediaof claim 1, the second viewing angle being pivoted about a vertical axisrelative to the first viewing angle to provide a different lateral viewwith respect to the desktop object.
 3. The one or more computer-readablemedia of claim 1, further comprising providing a user-controlled viewingangle selector for selecting between the first and second viewingangles.
 4. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 3, theuser-controlled viewing angle selector providing a selection between thefirst and second viewing angles according to a position of an operatingsystem-controlled cursor within a predefined distance from a margin ofthe display screen.
 5. The one or more computer-readable media of claim3, the user-controlled viewing angle selector providing a selectionbetween the first and second viewing angles according to a position ofan operating system cursor within a predefined distance from a sidemargin of the display screen.
 6. The one or more computer-readable mediaof claim 1, further comprising transitioning from the first and secondviewing angles effectuated by eye pupil motion detection of a user'seyes.
 7. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, the firstand second viewing angles being defined by a physical orientation of aline of sight directed from a user's eyes in relation to the displayscreen.
 8. A system comprising: memory; one or more processorscommunicatively coupled to the memory; a variable viewing angleinterface module, stored in the memory and executable on the one or moreprocessors, to present at least first and second viewing angles, a firstviewing angle being perpendicular to a desktop object that is presentedparallel to a surface of a display screen and the second viewing anglebeing non-perpendicular to the desktop object, the variable viewingangle interface module employing parallax to display one of the viewingangles.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein employing parallax comprisescausing at least one rectangularly presented window object to bepresented trapezoidally.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein employingparallax comprises shifting a rectangularly presented object intotrapezoidally presented object.
 11. The system of claim 8, the at leastone angular dimension includes a viewing angle that is pivoted about aviewing axis that is substantially parallel to the desktop object andhas a substantially vertical orientation with respect to the displayscreen.
 12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a user-controlledviewing angle selector module, stored in the memory and executable onthe one or more processors, to select between the first viewing angleand second viewing angle.
 13. The system of claim 12, theuser-controlled viewing angle selector module being configured toprovide selection between the first and second viewing angles accordingto a position of an operating system-controlled cursor being within apredefined distance from a margin of the display screen.
 14. The systemof claim 8, transition from the first and second viewing angleseffectuated by eye pupil motion detection of a user's eyes.
 15. Thesystem of claim 8, the first and second viewing angles being defined bya physical orientation of a line of sight directed from a user's eyes inrelation to the display screen.
 16. A method comprising: providing afirst viewing angle perpendicular to a desktop object that is presentedparallel to a surface of a display screen; and employing parallax toprovide a second viewing angle being non-perpendicular to the desktopobject.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying thefirst viewing angle and/or the second viewing angle based at least inpart on a position of an operating system-controlled cursor.
 18. Themethod of claim 16, further comprising displaying the first viewingangle and/or the second viewing angle based at least in part on eyepupil motion detection.
 19. The method of claim 16, the first and secondviewing angles corresponding to respective first and second viewpointsrelative to the desktop object.
 20. The method of claim 16, whereinproviding the second viewing angle includes defining the second viewingangle as being pivoted from the first viewing angle about a verticalaxis to provide a different lateral view with respect to the displayscreen.